Weighted Chest Protector

ABSTRACT

A weighted chest protector, comprising a first connector comprising of two or more corresponding parts, a second connector comprising of two or more corresponding parts, a front panel comprising of one or more of the two or more corresponding parts of the first connector, a rear panel, an adjustable shoulder panel, comprising a first end comprising of one or more of the two or more corresponding parts of the first connector for connecting the shoulder panel to the front panel of the weighted chest protector, a second end comprising of one or more of the two or more corresponding parts of the second connector for connecting the shoulder panel to the rear panel of the weighted chest protector via a stability strap, a weight affixed proximally to the second end of the shoulder strap of the weighted chest protector, and a stability strap with a first end and a second end, the first end comprising of one or more of the two or more corresponding parts of the second connector for removably connecting to the second end of the shoulder panel, and the second end removably connected to a lower portion of the rear panel.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to chest protectors, and inparticular, to a chest protector with one or more removable weights forproviding resistance during drills and other training exercises.

Related Art

Chest protectors are commonly worn during baseball or softball games,practice, and drills over the chest of an umpire or catcher in order toshield the body from injury. Traditional chest protectors are typicallylightweight padded vests where, in some instances, the padding issegmented in order to absorb the greatest amount of shock.

Weighted chest protectors are not commonly known for use in sports,however, weighted vests have been long used in exercise and trainingwhere the weights add resistance and intensity to any training session.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,302 discloses a weighted training vesthaving constant weight distribution comprising of front and rear panelseach with a plurality of detachable weights spaced at predetermineddistances apart; U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,442 discloses a snuggly fitvariable vest for use during exercise where the weights are designed tofit snuggly within pockets in the vest; U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,012discloses a weighted exercise vest allowing uniform size and shapeweights to fit snuggly within pockets in the vest.

The present invention discloses an improved chest protector for useduring drills and other training sessions comprising of removableweights for optimizing the wearers natural movements and increasingendurance and strength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employedherein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regardedas limiting.

The present invention is directed to a weighted chest protectorcomprising a front panel, a rear panel, an adjustable shoulder panel,and a stability strap. The adjustable shoulder panel comprising a firstend comprising of a first connector for connecting the shoulder panel tothe front panel of the weighted chest protector, a second end comprisingof a second connector for connecting the shoulder panel to the rearpanel of the weighted chest protector via a stability strap, and aweight affixed proximally to the second end of the shoulder panel of theweighted chest protector. The stability strap comprising a first end anda second end, the first end removably connected to the second connectorof the shoulder panel and the second end removably affixed to a lowerportion of the rear panel. These and other features of the presentinvention will become readily apparent upon further review of thespecification and drawings.

BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of exampleonly, and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a weighted chest protector accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a rear perspective view of a weighted chest protectoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a rear perspective view of a weighted chest protectoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a shoulder panel of a weighted chestprotector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures, where similar reference characters denotesimilar elements throughout the figures, FIGS. 1, 2 a and 2 b are frontand rear perspective views of a weighted chest protector 100 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 3 is a bottom view ofan adjustable shoulder panel 114 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

The weighted chest protector 100 comprising a first connector 118 withtwo or more corresponding parts, a second connector 120 with two or morecorresponding parts, a front panel 110 comprising of one or morecorresponding parts of the first connector 118, a rear panel 112, anadjustable shoulder panel 114, and a stability strap 116. The adjustableshoulder panel 114 comprising a first end comprising of one or morecorresponding parts of the first connector 118 for connecting theshoulder panel 114 to the front panel 110 of the weighted chestprotector 100, a second end comprising of one or more correspondingparts of the second connector 120 for connecting the shoulder panel 114to the rear panel 112 of the weighted chest protector 100 via thestability strap 116, and a weight 122 a affixed proximally to the secondend of the adjustable shoulder panel 114. The first connector 118 andthe second connector 120 preferably being a snap fattener but anymale-female fastener which is commonly known in the art may be used,this may include but is not limited to hook and loop fasteners orbuttons. The weight 122 a may either be permanently affixed to theshoulder panel 114 or removably affixed by any means commonly known inthe art, which may include but is not limited to magnets, buttons, hookand loop fasteners, pockets. The weight 122 a for providing resistanceto a wearer during drills and training and assists in improving throwingspeed during games. The front panel 110 further comprising of a frontweight 138 centrally located on an upper section of the front panel 110and a side weight 140 on each side of a lower portion of the front panel110 wherein the side weights 140 are of equal weight.

The stability strap 116 comprising a first end and a second end, thefirst end comprising of one or more corresponding parts of the secondconnector for removably connecting the stability strap 116 to the one ormore corresponding parts of the second end of the shoulder panel 114 andthe second end of the stability strap 116 removably connected to a lowerportion of the rear panel 112. The stability strap for stabilizing theweight 122 a of the shoulder panel.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustableshoulder panel 114 is a rectangle and the rear panel 112 is a trapezoidhaving a horizontal top edge 124 parallel to a horizontal bottom edge126 where the bottom edge 126 is longer than the top edge 124, and twoside edges 128, 130 longitudinally converging from the corners of thebottom edge 126 to the corners of the top edge 124. The rear panel 112having a horizontal strap 132 extending from each corner of the bottomedge 126 for connecting the rear panel 112 to the front panel 110, and avertical strap 134 extending from each corner of the top edge 124 forconnecting the rear panel 112 to the front panel 110. The horizontalstraps 132 and the vertical straps 134 are adjustable to a wearer's sizeand may include elastic, buckles or other adjusting means commonly knownin the art. The rear panel also comprising of a centrally located weight122 b for providing resistance thereby increasing speed and improving awearer's natural movements. In a perfect fit, the weight of the rearpanel sits within the wearer's thoracic vertebrae. The weighted chestprotector made of washable materials.

In another embodiment of the present invention according to FIG. 2b ,the adjustable shoulder panel 114 is a rectangle and the rear panel 112is a triangle having a horizontal bottom edge 126 and two side edges128, 130 longitudinally converging from the corners of the bottom edge126 to a meet forming a point. The rear panel 112 having a horizontalstrap 132 extending from each corner of the bottom edge 126 forconnecting the rear panel 112 to the front panel 110, and two verticalstraps 134 extending from the point for connecting the rear panel 112 tothe front panel 110. The horizontal straps 132 and the vertical straps134 are adjustable to a wearer's size and may include elastic, bucklesor other adjusting means commonly known in the art. The rear panel alsocomprising of a centrally located weight 122 b for providing resistancethereby increasing speed and improving a wearer's natural movements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A weighted chest protector, comprising: a. afirst connector comprising of two or more corresponding parts; b. asecond connector comprising of two or more corresponding parts; c. afront panel comprising of one or more of the two or more correspondingparts of the first connector; d. a rear panel; e. an adjustable shoulderpanel, comprising: i. a first end comprising of one or more of the twoor more corresponding parts of the first connector for connecting theshoulder panel to the front panel of the weighted chest protector; ii. asecond end comprising of one or more of the two or more correspondingparts of the second connector for connecting the shoulder panel to therear panel of the weighted chest protector via a stability strap; iii. aweight affixed proximally to the second end of the shoulder strap of theweighted chest protector; and f. a stability strap with a first end anda second end, the first end comprising of one or more of the two or morecorresponding parts of the second connector for removably connecting tothe second end of the shoulder panel, and the second end removablyconnected to a lower portion of the rear panel.
 2. The weighted chestprotector of claim 1, wherein the adjustable shoulder panel is arectangle.
 3. The weighted chest protector of claim 1, wherein the firstconnector and the second connector consist essentially of snapfasteners.
 4. The weighted chest protector of claim 1, wherein theweight of the shoulder panel is removable.
 5. The weighted chestprotector of claim 1, wherein the stability strap is adjustable.
 6. Theweighted chest protector of claim 1, wherein the stability strap is madeof elastic.
 7. The weighted chest protector of claim 1, wherein thefront panel further comprises of a front weight centrally located on anupper section of the front panel and a side weight on each side of alower portion of the front panel wherein the side weights are of equalweight.
 8. The weighted chest protector of claim 1, wherein the rearpanel is a trapezoid comprising of a horizontal top edge parallel to ahorizontal bottom edge where the bottom edge is longer then the topedge, and two side edges longitudinally converging from the corners ofthe bottom edge the corners of the top edge.
 9. The weighted chestprotector of claim 1, wherein the rear panel is a triangle comprising ofa horizontal bottom edge and two side edges longitudinally convergingfrom the corners of the bottom edge to form a point.
 10. The weightedchest protector of claim 8, wherein the rear panel further comprises ofa horizontal strap extending from each corner of the bottom edge forconnecting the rear panel to the front panel, and a vertical strapextending from each corner of the top edge for connecting the rear panelto the front panel.
 11. The weighted chest protector of claim 10,wherein the rear panel further comprises of a centrally located weight.12. The weighted chest protector of claim 11, wherein the centrallylocated weight is removably connected to the rear panel.
 13. Theweighted chest protector of claim 9, wherein the rear panel furthercomprises of a horizontal strap extending from each corner of the bottomedge for connecting the rear panel to the front panel, and two verticalstraps extending from the point for connecting the rear panel to thefront panel.
 14. The weighted chest protector of claim 13, wherein therear panel further comprises of a centrally located weight.
 15. Theweighted chest protector of claim 14, wherein the centrally locatedweight is removably connected to the rear panel.